1990 Florida Citrus Bowl

The 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game at the Florida Citrus Bowl stadium in Orlando, Florida between the University of Illinois Fighting Illini and the Virginia Cavaliers on January 1, 1990. The game was the final contest of the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 31–21 victory for Illinois.

1990 Florida Citrus Growers Association Florida Citrus Bowl
Illinois Fighting Illini Virginia Cavaliers (9–2) (10–2) Big Ten ACC 31 21 Head coach:  John Mackovic Head coach:  George Welsh AP Coaches 11 11 AP Coaches 15 14
1 2 3 4 Total Illinois 7 10 7 7 31 Virginia 0 7 7 7 21
Date	January 1, 1990
Season	1989
Stadium	Florida Citrus Bowl
Location	Orlando, Florida
MVP	QB Jeff George, Illinois
Referee	Loyd Dale (Southern Independent)
Attendance	42,890
United States TV coverage
Network	ABC
Announcers	Gary Bender and Dick Vermeil
Florida Citrus Bowl  < 1989  1991 >

Game summary

Illinois snapped a 26-year bowl victory drought with a 31–21 win over Virginia in the Florida Citrus Bowl. Illinois jumped on the Cavaliers early, with linebacker Bill Henkel recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff. Five plays later, quarterback Jeff George drilled a 15-yard scoring strike to Steven Williams. After Virginia tied the game early in the second quarter, George directed Illinois on an 80-yard scoring drive. Illinois opened the second half with an 84-yard drive capped by fullback Howard Griffith's three-yard touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, receiver Mike Bellamy scored on a 26-yard pass from George to clinch an Illini victory. George earned MVP honors, completing 26-of-38 for 321 yards and three TDs.

Scoring summary

Quarter	Team	Scoring summary	Score
			Illinois	Virginia
1	Illinois	Steven Williams 15-yard touchdown reception from Jeff George, Doug Higgins kick good	7	0
2	Virginia	Tim Finkelston 30-yard touchdown reception from Shawn Moore, Jake McInerney kick good	7	7
	Illinois	Dan Donovan 1-yard touchdown reception from Jeff George, Doug Higgins kick good	14	7
	Illinois	34-yard field goal by Doug Higgins	17	7
3	Illinois	3-yard touchdown run by Howard Griffith, Doug Higgins kick good	24	7
	Virginia	2-yard touchdown run by Marcus Wilson, Jake McInerney kick good	24	14
4	Illinois	Mike Bellamy 24-yard touchdown reception from Jeff George, Doug Higgins kick good	31	14
	Virginia	Herman Moore 4-yard touchdown reception from Shawn Moore, Jake McInerney kick good	31	21
			31	21

Statistical summary

Team Statistics

(Rushing-Passing-Total): UI – 176-321-497; UV – 110-112-322.

Individual Statistical Leaders

Rushing (Att.-Yds.-TD): UI – Griffith 18-93-0, Steve Feagin 10-54-0; UV – Terry Kirby 8-64-0.

Passing (Att.-Comp.-Int.-TD-Yds.): UI – George 38-26-1-3-321; UV – S. Moore 27-17-2-2-191.

Receiving (No.-Yds.-TD): UI – Bellamy 8-166-1, Williams 4-45-1; UV – Finkelston 3-69-1, Herman Moore 5-56-1.

References